SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND LAUNCH PUSH TO SECURE NEW NY-NJ CYBER PROTECTION COMMAND SITE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK; WITH NEW COMMAND SITE, ROME LABS AND LATHAM ARMORY WOULD BE KEY LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC CYBER ATTACKS

Schumer, Gillibrand Say Rome Labs, A National Leader in Communications and Cyber Technology, Would Serve As Training Site For Elite Cyber Protection Team For NY & NJ; Latham Armory, The Capital Region’s National Guard Base, Would Serve as the Unit’s Mission Command Site

Choosing Latham Armory as the Mission Command Site and Rome Labs for Training Would Establish Upstate NY As A Leader In Counter- & Cyber-Terrorism Research; Cyber Protection Team Would Bring New Jobs To Oneida County, Capital Region & Benefit Regional Economy – Schumer Made Personal Call to Head of National Guard Bureau to Advocate for Rome Labs and Latham Armory

Schumer, Gillibrand: Cyber Protection Team in Upstate New York Would Be Shot in the Arm for Mohawk Valley & Capital Region

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand recently urged the National Guard Bureau to select the New York and New Jersey Army National Guards’ proposal to become the site of a multi-state Cyber Protection Team (CPT). Schumer and Gillibrand said this CPT would be based in New York and New Jersey and would therefore, allow the New York National Guard to serve as a national leader in countering cyber-terrorism. The bid would allow Rome Labs, a national leader in communications and cyber technology in the heart of the Mohawk Valley, to serve as an elite training facility for the CPT unit For NY and NJ. In addition, Latham Armory, the Capital Region’s National Guard Base, would serve as the Unit’s Mission Command center. Schumer and Gillibrand said New York’s cyber infrastructure and knowledge and abilities in the New York National Guard reinforce the fact that the Mohawk Valley and the Capital Region are well-positioned to be the sites of the new CPT unit. Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, has long led the fight for the National Guard to play a central role in the cyber protection of our country, including through the Cyber Warrior Act of 2013. Schumer made a personal call to General Frank J. Grass, Chief of the National Guard Bureau and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to advocate for this proposal.

“The recent hack of Sony Pictures by the North Koreans was a wake-up call that we need to do more to prevent the looming threat of domestic and foreign cyber-attacks, and as the financial center of the United States, the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan area is one of the top potential targets for cyber-attack. Fortunately, we have developed one of the most advanced cyber-command centers nationwide at Rome Labs,” said Senator Schumer. “That’s why I’m calling on the National Guard Bureau to select the NY-NJ bid to be the home of this new Cyber Protection Team and make Latham Armory as its mission command location and Rome Labs as part of its training site. Combining the resources of New York and New Jersey, along with the expertise that has already been developed and can be further leveraged at Rome Labs and Latham Armory, will allow us to better fight the new threats we face in the 21 ^st century.”

“I urge the National Guard Bureau to choose the New York and New Jersey National Guard to host a Cyber Protection Team. I have long argued that the National Guard is uniquely suited to serve as the front line in protecting our country from cyber-attacks and no region needs this protection more than New York and New Jersey. The CPT will build on the capabilities of the region including the existing relationships between the New York and New Jersey Guards and the research leadership at Rome.” said Senator Gillibrand.

Schumer and Gillibrand said with its existing infrastructure and resources, in Upstate New York – and specifically Rome Labs in the Mohawk Valley and Latham Armory in the Capital Region – would be perfectly suited to be the mission command location for the new CPT. Schumer and Gillibrand said the facilities’ personnel have extensive experience in their current positions that would translate well to meeting the needs of the CPT unit. Schumer and Gillibrand said, the New York National Guard would be able to leverage its existing experience on homeland security operations and emergency preparedness training to build the CPT. In addition, Schumer and Gillibrand said that selecting the New York and New Jersey as the site for the CPT would bring new jobs to Upstate New York and serve as a major boon to the regional economy.

The New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area is one of the top global terrorism targets given its role as the financial hub of the United States. This has prompted the region to develop one of the most sophisticated network of counter-terrorism units not just in the country, but worldwide. Schumer and Gillibrand said the constant threat to New Yorkers is a key reason why the state has taken such a proactive role in recruiting and training personnel to counter these threats. The emergence of cyber-terrorism as a legitimate threat to national and global security has highlighted the necessity for a CPT. Schumer and Gillibrand said because of the sophisticated nature of cyber-terrorism, the site of the Cyber Protection Team should be a facility that already has advanced capabilities and resources that could properly serve the team’s needs.

Schumer and Gillibrand said Latham Armory would serve as the mission command location and Rome Labs as a training location for the needs of the CPT unit. These facilities have extensive homeland security and emergency preparedness infrastructure that would translate well to what the cyber unit needs. Schumer and Gillibrand said Rome Labs demonstrated its capabilities during events such as Hurricane Sandy, as well as countless examples of serving the United States’ interests overseas. Schumer and Gillibrand were joined in their bid by New Jersey Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker.

A copy of Schumer and Gillibrand’s letter to General Frank J. Grass, Chief, National Guard Bureau appears below:

General Frank J. Grass

Chief, National Guard Bureau

111 South George Mason Drive

Arlington, VA 22204

Dear General Grass,

We are writing to reinforce our support for the combined New York and New Jersey Army National Guard bid to become a multi-state Cyber Protection Team (CPT). National and international cyber threats are growing in severity and frequency, and the Army National Guard has a unique and critical role to play in both responding to these threats and securing the nation’s cyber networks.

The New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area has long been a primary target of our adversaries around the world. Cyber is an integral part of our economy and national security, and we must be prepared to deter the growing threat to cyber networks in America’s financial hub. Increasing resources and protection in the bi-state area not only decreases the financial threat domestically, but also internationally. While both of our states have implemented significant information security measures across a variety of agencies, this Cyber Protection Team would integrate the Army National Guard as a cyber-resource capable of responding to threats anywhere in either state.

Our two National Guard organizations have positioned themselves well for success in combating these threats, by leveraging the dual-nature of today’s citizen soldiers to take advantage of the booming information technology sector corporations in New York and New Jersey. They are fully capable of filling the team’s challenging personnel requirements, have access to existing secure infrastructure, and can leverage their extensive experience collaborating on homeland security operations and emergency preparedness training to quickly build a successful team. Further strengthening their capabilities are the relationships both New York and New Jersey Army National Guard have developed with Federal, State, and local partners. We are confident that New York and New Jersey are prepared to excellently recruit, build, train and sustain a joint CPT.

Accordingly, we would request you strongly consider the New York and New Jersey Army National Guard Cyber Protection Team’s application which will allow them to immediately begin preparations to activate a team. These organizations demonstrated their importance to the citizens of both of our states during catastrophic events such as Hurricane Sandy, as well as to our country with their service overseas. It is critical that they be allowed to continue their exemplary service in the cyber realm in the bi-state area where this relentless threat will only grow more costly.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

Kirsten Gillibrand

United States Senator